Hedging Bets: Meaning, Sports Betting Examples & Expert Analysis November 2025

Hedging your bet means giving yourself a safety net by placing a second wager on the opposite outcome; one of your bets will win.  

Losing a large wager in the closing minutes of a championship game is the worst feeling in the world, but many sports bettors steer clear of this situation by hedging their wagers.

Hedging Your Bets Meaning - November 2025

Placing two wagers on the same game or event, but on opposing outcomes, is known as hedging within sports betting terms. It’s a strategy used to protect yourself from a total loss. One of the bets will lose. That’s guaranteed. But the other bet is designed to cover that loss, and often, turn a profit.

Consider it a form of forward planning. Instead of taking a chance and losing everything, you're settling for a smaller possible win or a break-even result. In high-risk wagers, long-shot parlays, or intense championship games where the stakes are really high, this is quite helpful.

Key points:

• You’re betting on both sides of the same event.
• One bet will lose, and that stake is gone.
• But the other bet wins. Thus, covering the risk and helping you come out ahead or reduce the blow.

Here’s an example:

Early in the season, say you wager $100 on Team A to win the MLS Cup at +400. Team A is now the favorite at -120 when they get to the final. You hedge by betting $200 on Team B. No matter who wins, you’ve protected yourself.

When to Hedge a Bet

We’ve looked at the definition of hedging your bets; now let's examine some actual situations when using this tactic might help you secure a victory or minimize losses. 

Hedge opportunities frequently arise when you have backed a team early at big odds and they have advanced far in a tournament or season.

 Let's dissect it using two recent instances from Super Bowl LIX and the NBA Finals.

Hedging Bets: NBA Example

You placed a $100 bet on the Oklahoma City Thunder at +800, to be the NBA Champions, early in the regular season. At the time, OKC was a promising young squad, but far from being favorites. You liked the upside—strong three-point shooting, elite defense, and a rising MVP candidate—and saw value in the odds. A $100 bet at +800 gave you a potential payout of $900.

Without Hedging Bets ($100 Staked):

Now, fast-forward several months. Everyone was taken aback when the Thunder advanced to the NBA Finals and easily won the playoffs. The Indiana Pacers, a tough underdog squad with momentum on their side, will be their next opponent. The Thunder are now the series favorite at -120, but the matchup is anything but easy. 

You’re staring at a $900 payout, but one bad series and you walk away with nothing. That’s where hedging your bet comes in. 

The Pacers are available at +200. You place a $100 hedge bet on Indiana. Now, no matter who wins, you’re covered.

Hedging Bets ($100 on Thunder + $100 on Pacers):

Hedging Bets: NFL Example

Let’s apply the same idea to Super Bowl LIX, featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. This example shows how a smart hedge can turn an early-season future into a guaranteed profit—win or lose. Your instincts about the Chiefs back in September were informed. 

With Patrick Mahomes still playing at his best, the club appeared eager to win the championship again. You put $150 on Kansas City to win the Super Bowl with a margin of +600. At those odds, a win would return $1,050—a massive payday if it hit.

Without Hedging Bets ($150 Staked):

Fast forward to February. The Chiefs made it. However, the Eagles also appeared to be equally threatening. The betting markets were almost evenly divided, their defense was unrelenting, and their attack was scorching. 

Anything may happen in a one-game shootout where everything is on the line. Suddenly, you’re facing a tough choice: stick with your original $150 bet and ride it out, or hedge by betting on the Eagles to protect your bankroll.

You check the lines: Philadelphia is priced at +180. That opens the door for a hedge that guarantees profit no matter what. You decide to put $250 on the Eagles, locking in a win either way.

With Hedging Bets ($150 on Chiefs + $250 on Eagles):

Hedging in this case means walking away with either $800 or $550, depending on the result. You give up some upside ($1,050 max), but avoid the worst-case scenario—a total loss after months of waiting. And in the Super Bowl, where momentum can swing on a single play, that kind of security is priceless.

How to Hedge a Bet

Here’s a step-by-step guide to hedging a bet with clear reasoning for each move.

1. Head to your preferred sportsbook
2. Find the futures or moneyline market for the big game or series
3. Keep your current bet in mind, especially the odds and payout
4. Place a second wager on the other side, sized to reduce risk or guarantee a return.
5. That’s it—you’ve hedged your bet
6. Sit back and enjoy the action
7. Finish up with a wining bet, regardless of outcome 

Imagine heading into a big game with a massive payout on the line. You’ve nailed every pick in a parlay or locked in a juicy longshot early in the season. The excitement is real—but so is the anxiety. That’s when hedging becomes more than just a tactic. It turns into a strategy to safeguard your position, guarantee your profit, and get a good night's sleep.

Hedging Bets: Types & Methods

There are several ways to safeguard yourself when it comes to hedging your bets. A partial hedge or a complete hedge are the two primary strategies you would often select from, depending on your risk tolerance, the movement of the odds, and the circumstances of the game. However, not all hedging scenarios are created equal. Let’s walk through the methods—and when to use them—with examples from parlay betting, live betting, and futures markets.

Partial Hedge

A partial hedge is when you cover just part of your original exposure—a flexible way to stay in the game while softening the blow if things go south. You’re still hoping your original bet hits, but the hedge offers a soft landing. This is especially popular when you’re one leg away from cashing a parlay.

Example:

You have a 5-leg parlay, with four legs already won. The final leg is the Lakers’ moneyline. Your $50 parlay would pay $1,100. Instead of sweating the last leg, you place a $200 hedge on the other team at +140. Now, if the Lakers lose, your hedge wins—and you still walk away with around $280 profit.

Partial Hedge: Pros & Cons

Partial hedging is also popular during live betting, when the momentum of a game shifts dramatically.

Here’s a possible scenario:

You bet Real Madrid pre-game at +200. They take a 1-0 lead, but the opponent is pressing hard.

You hedge live by backing a draw at +350. If Madrid holds on, you win your original bet. If they concede late, your live hedge covers it. This method allows you to respond in real time, protecting profit without walking away from big upside.

Full Hedge

A full hedge is when you completely remove your exposure, locking in a guaranteed outcome. This is most useful in futures betting or when a large payout is on the line.

Example:

You placed $100 on the 49ers to win the Super Bowl at +1200. They reach the final and are now -115 favorites. You hedge fully by betting $500 on their opponent at +175. Regardless of who wins, you walk away with significant gains—and no emotional rollercoaster.

A full hedge might also make sense when your bet is looking shaky and you want to cash in your equity before things fall apart.

You’ll often see full hedges used in:

• Championship games
• Large parlays
• Longshot futures with massive potential payout

While it means sacrificing the thrill of a huge win, many bettors prefer the guaranteed return, especially when thousands of dollars are at stake.

Full Hedge: Pros & Cons

Choosing the Right Hedge

Whether you go partial or full depends on:

• Your confidence in your original pick
• How much value is left in your bet
• The extent of risk you are willing to absorb

Some bettors hedge to protect their emotions, others to lock in profits, and some only hedge when odds offer clear value on the other side. In the end, hedging is personal. There’s no right or wrong—just smart and smarter, depending on the situation.